TALES BEFORE BEDTIME.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16747, 13 March 1926, Page 14 (Supplement)

TALES BEFORE BEDTIME.

THE RIDE. Brian looked up at the window out of which his mother was looking. lie thought: “Oh, she oughtn t to get out of bed; she's poorly. And then lie shouted: “Say it again, Mums. I can't hear." His mother called down to him and then smiled and shut the window. Brian stood quite still for a moment. All at once lie knew that he was a very big boy, nearly grown upl He was to take the pony and go to the village end fetch the letters. lie could hardly believe it, and yet Mummic had called do\vn and told him. She had said: "Do you think, darling, you could take Laddie and go to fetch the letters? Old Joe is poorly too, and can’t come to-day. Well, he was seven! He could ride, and he was going to do it. He had never been out alone with the pony before, and he had never saddled Laddie.

He tore off to the little stable and began at once: It was hard work, and he grew very hot; but at last he led Laddie out through the gate and into the lane. Then he scrambled up as best he could and started off. It took Brian quite a long time to get there, and he was very hot and tired; but he got the letters and turned Laddie round. And it was then that his trouble began. The pony started off at a great pace, and poor Brian, who had one hand full of letters, could hardly keep frem falling off. And they came within sight of home, and there was Mummie, poor Mummie, coming along to meet him, with an anxious face, and the old dog Paddy jumping by her side. “Oh, Brian, Brian!” she called. “Whatever made you do it? I’ve been dreadfully frightened.” “Bui, Mummie, you told me to!” “No, no; I said you could take Paddy and feteL the letters.” “Oh, dear!” Brian stared, wide-eyed. “T thought you said Laddie, and so I did!”